title: Pulmonary toxicity of high-dose chemotherapy for breast cancer: a non-invasive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Drug-induced pulmonary toxicity is one of the most frequent non-hematologic toxicities in breast cancer patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, cisplatin and BCNU (CY/CDDP/BCNU). A non-invasive clinical scoring system was utilized in an attempt to diagnose and treat early lung toxicity in 64 consecutive breast cancer patients undergoing CY/CDDP/BCNU supported by peripheral blood progenitor cells. Following hospital discharge, patients who developed symptoms suggestive of lung toxicity were evaluated with physical examination, DLCO, 2-min walking oximetry and a chest radiograph. Clinically weighted scores were assigned as follows: crackles on lung exam, 2; decrease in corrected DLCO by > 10% from baseline, 3; decrease in O2 saturation by > or = 4% with a 2-min walk, 3; and interstitial infiltrates on chest radiograph, 3. Patients with scores > or = 6 were treated with prednisone (60 mg p.o. twice a day followed by a 2-month taper). Treatment was instituted in 37 patients (58%) a median of 56 days after high-dose chemotherapy. Steroid therapy was associated with rapid clinical improvement in most patients. No fatal complications or chronic pulmonary fibrosis was seen. This non-invasive clinical scoring system can be utilized as a model for the early diagnosis of lung toxicity. Further investigation is warranted for the development of preventative measures against this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chap
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shpiner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Glaspy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002330:Carmustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin; D002330:Carmustine; D011241:Prednisone